Hi everyone, looking for ideas / suggestions on how to better integrate the Factions into the story. I’m thinking about making this a bit of a race against time, really get into a gold rush!
Gundren has allied with The Lords Alliance with the goal of bringing prosperity back to the region. The Lords Alliance have dispatched Iarno Albrek to establish a foothold however with no contact from Iarno, Sildar was sent out to investigate afterwards. If the players carry on with completing jobs and tasks for the Lords Alliance, depending on the outcome of Wave Echo Cave, LA will have control over the mines.
The Harper’s through their spy network has learned of the Rockseekers big find and are doing everything they can to ensure that Gundren and the LA do not get access to the vast resources it has to offer as this would give too much power to the LA.
The Zhentarim also have learned of the big discovery and are looking to infiltrate the local town master to establish control over Phandalin so that when the town booms, resources, wealth and power are in their pockets.
I have not nailed down the Emerald Enclave and Order of The Gauntlet, however I get the feeling they are not quite in the same race as the other three. I might work with by discovering wave echo cave it has unleashed strange magic. These factions are there for damage control with unnatural and evil happenings.
In my version, we also have the Drow spearheaded by Nezznar, looking to secure the forge In order to enhance Nezznar’s Spider Staff. This Spider Staff contains a shattered piece of the obelisk. If activated, it will help locate the missing pieces of the shattered obelisk. The Drow raid, led by a house from Menzoberazzen Mother Matron received a vision from Lolth to locate the forge, find the missing pieces and power the obelisk to harness the sun’s energy so the world would plunge into eternal darkness and the drow can emerge to the surface to take full control.
Having the factions at play will sort of conclude or provide an outcome for in the event the players stop Nezznar and the drow and reopen wave echo cave and the forge of spells. Phandalin booms and the faction they choose to aid controls it. Of course, danger is once again on the horizon, the opening of wave echo cave brings Dragons to the area (Segway into Dragons of Icespire Peak), the Mind Flayers have a plan ( Phandelver and Below), Giants are now aware ( Storm King Thunder) and The Drow are not done yet ( Decent into the Abyss).
My problem is, I need some ideas for jobs or side quests for each faction that integrates well with the campaign that would shift the balance of power in Phandalin. The players need to get a sense for what they are doing and helping one faction has consequences. Any ideas?
I like what you are doing here, but am not so sure you need new side quests from the factions. They want the results and info from the existing quests! The race you mentioned. Who knows that Cragmaw Castle has been cleared first? What advantages does that intel give? What rewards will they give the party to keep it quiet?
I have rejigged those side quests to fit players backstory quests.
Ruins of Thundertree I’ve tweaked for my Firbolg Druid. Venomfang, Shambling Mound, Gultias Tree, Blights. Unnatural things that the Firbolg’s clan has sent her out to investigate.
Wyvern Tor I’v tweaked and added a Temple of Marthammor Duin (Hidden in the Crags) for my Dwarf Cleric. This cleric is a wanderer running away from her past. Adding a puzzle and a lesson that you will have to face your past.
Old Owl Well I have tweaked to fit my Moon Elf Paladin. More like an endless horde of the undead. This moon elf is part of a knights of the order for Sehanine Moonbow and they HATE the undead. This player also likes combat and cutting down things with their great sword. test of Might sort of thing.
Agatha’s Lair I’ve tweaked for Harengon Rogue as more of a get in and get out snatch and grab. Avoid the Banshee sir of thing, but they do encounter the Banshee and the Harengon (if played right) gets to ask the Banshee a question. The Harengon is looking for information about his missing Father from the fey.
I also like what you are doing here, but I agree you might be trying to put too many toppings in your sammich. Lost Mine of Phandelver is a quick 1-5. Also, nothing ever goes to plan. Be ready to react to possibilities. Such as Iarno is probably going to escape, so have ideas of how that might trigger other factions if, say, he shows back up in town with reinforcements while the players are doing something else. There is plenty already going on. I mean, as always, your campaign, I'm just worried you are setting yourself up to write a bunch of scenes you don't end up using and getting disappointed. But, then again, that's where you get a box of ideas to pull from!
Yeah, I think you are going above and beyond. Your players will be thrilled.
If you truly feel you need to add more, pulling quests from Dragon of Icespire Peak can save time, fit the region, and pile on. Each faction could have the keys to these quests, rewarding the choice to help them with opportunities not found elsewhere (instead of them being posted for all).
Hi everyone, looking for ideas / suggestions on how to better integrate the Factions into the story. I’m thinking about making this a bit of a race against time, really get into a gold rush!
Gundren has allied with The Lords Alliance with the goal of bringing prosperity back to the region. The Lords Alliance have dispatched Iarno Albrek to establish a foothold however with no contact from Iarno, Sildar was sent out to investigate afterwards. If the players carry on with completing jobs and tasks for the Lords Alliance, depending on the outcome of Wave Echo Cave, LA will have control over the mines.
The Harper’s through their spy network has learned of the Rockseekers big find and are doing everything they can to ensure that Gundren and the LA do not get access to the vast resources it has to offer as this would give too much power to the LA.
The Zhentarim also have learned of the big discovery and are looking to infiltrate the local town master to establish control over Phandalin so that when the town booms, resources, wealth and power are in their pockets.
I have not nailed down the Emerald Enclave and Order of The Gauntlet, however I get the feeling they are not quite in the same race as the other three. I might work with by discovering wave echo cave it has unleashed strange magic. These factions are there for damage control with unnatural and evil happenings.
In my version, we also have the Drow spearheaded by Nezznar, looking to secure the forge In order to enhance Nezznar’s Spider Staff. This Spider Staff contains a shattered piece of the obelisk. If activated, it will help locate the missing pieces of the shattered obelisk. The Drow raid, led by a house from Menzoberazzen Mother Matron received a vision from Lolth to locate the forge, find the missing pieces and power the obelisk to harness the sun’s energy so the world would plunge into eternal darkness and the drow can emerge to the surface to take full control.
Having the factions at play will sort of conclude or provide an outcome for in the event the players stop Nezznar and the drow and reopen wave echo cave and the forge of spells. Phandalin booms and the faction they choose to aid controls it. Of course, danger is once again on the horizon, the opening of wave echo cave brings Dragons to the area (Segway into Dragons of Icespire Peak), the Mind Flayers have a plan ( Phandelver and Below), Giants are now aware ( Storm King Thunder) and The Drow are not done yet ( Decent into the Abyss).
My problem is, I need some ideas for jobs or side quests for each faction that integrates well with the campaign that would shift the balance of power in Phandalin. The players need to get a sense for what they are doing and helping one faction has consequences. Any ideas?
Thanks!
I like what you are doing here, but am not so sure you need new side quests from the factions. They want the results and info from the existing quests! The race you mentioned. Who knows that Cragmaw Castle has been cleared first? What advantages does that intel give? What rewards will they give the party to keep it quiet?
I have rejigged those side quests to fit players backstory quests.
Ruins of Thundertree I’ve tweaked for my Firbolg Druid. Venomfang, Shambling Mound, Gultias Tree, Blights. Unnatural things that the Firbolg’s clan has sent her out to investigate.
Wyvern Tor I’v tweaked and added a Temple of Marthammor Duin (Hidden in the Crags) for my Dwarf Cleric. This cleric is a wanderer running away from her past. Adding a puzzle and a lesson that you will have to face your past.
Old Owl Well I have tweaked to fit my Moon Elf Paladin. More like an endless horde of the undead. This moon elf is part of a knights of the order for Sehanine Moonbow and they HATE the undead. This player also likes combat and cutting down things with their great sword. test of Might sort of thing.
Agatha’s Lair I’ve tweaked for Harengon Rogue as more of a get in and get out snatch and grab. Avoid the Banshee sir of thing, but they do encounter the Banshee and the Harengon (if played right) gets to ask the Banshee a question. The Harengon is looking for information about his missing Father from the fey.
I also like what you are doing here, but I agree you might be trying to put too many toppings in your sammich. Lost Mine of Phandelver is a quick 1-5. Also, nothing ever goes to plan. Be ready to react to possibilities. Such as Iarno is probably going to escape, so have ideas of how that might trigger other factions if, say, he shows back up in town with reinforcements while the players are doing something else. There is plenty already going on. I mean, as always, your campaign, I'm just worried you are setting yourself up to write a bunch of scenes you don't end up using and getting disappointed. But, then again, that's where you get a box of ideas to pull from!
Yeah, I think you are going above and beyond. Your players will be thrilled.
If you truly feel you need to add more, pulling quests from Dragon of Icespire Peak can save time, fit the region, and pile on. Each faction could have the keys to these quests, rewarding the choice to help them with opportunities not found elsewhere (instead of them being posted for all).
That is a good idea. There are lots of jobs in that campaign that I can work with. At first I was thinking of doing it as a follow up after LmoP.